London’s black cab drivers are filing a multimillion-pound lawsuit against Uber, reigniting a long-standing dispute over the ride-hailing app’s operations in the UK capital. The legal action, scheduled to be filed in the High Court on Thursday, alleges that Uber obtained a license from Transport for London (TfL) in 2012 through improper means, resulting in the unlawful diversion of business from other drivers.
According to RGL Management, the litigation claims management company representing the drivers, the value of the claim is estimated to be at least £250 million. Each of the 10,500 black cab drivers in London could potentially receive compensation of up to £25,000 if the claim is successful. This includes full-time and part-time drivers who worked between June 2012 and mid-March 2018, as well as retired drivers. RGL has stated that any eligible drivers can join the action, as mentioned on their website.
Garry White, a black cab driver with 36 years of experience, stated, “Uber seems to believe it is above the law, and cabbies across London have suffered loss of earnings because of it. It is time they were held accountable.” This lawsuit revives a claim that the drivers initially attempted to bring against Uber in 2018, alleging that the company misled TfL about its operating system. The lawsuit was put on hold during the pandemic but has now been revived.
Michael Green, director of RGL Management, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “There are still thousands of cabbies eligible to join who have not yet done so. A cut-off date is fast approaching.”
In response to the lawsuit, an Uber spokesperson stated, “These old claims are completely unfounded. Uber operates lawfully in London, is fully licensed by TfL, and is proud to serve millions of passengers and drivers across the capital.”
This is not the first time Uber has faced disputes over its operations in London. In 2017, TfL refused to renew the company’s license, citing concerns about public safety and Uber’s level of responsibility. However, the ride-hailing app successfully appealed the decision, and its current license is set to expire at the end of September.
In 2021, Uber drivers were also granted worker status by the Supreme Court, entitling them to minimum wage and paid holidays. The company faced further backlash in 2022 when an international investigation by The Guardian revealed that Uber had attempted to lobby politicians and restrict access to databases in the event of police raids. The company’s representatives stated at the time that they would not make excuses for their past behavior.
In 2017, Dara Khosrowshahi took over as Uber’s CEO, replacing co-founder Travis Kalanick, with the goal of turning the company around. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Uber recorded its first full-year profit in 2023.
